30-Second Overview
Retail businesses face unique energy challenges and need a lot of power to operate every day. From illuminating displays to keeping refrigeration and heating running smoothly, energy is a major operating cost.
Energy bills can quickly eat into profits if you’re not keeping an eye on what is being charged. Understanding how energy is used and selecting the right supplier is essential to control costs and protect margins.
This guide helps retailers understand how to reduce electricity and gas bills, choose the right tariffs, and take advantage of the best contract options.
⚡ If you would like us to check if your business is on the cheapest commercial electricity rates available, just upload a recent bill using the link below, and our energy experts will analyse it for free. No obligation for you, just savings insights 👇
Where Retail Stores Use Electricity?
From small, independent shops to department stores, the amount of energy a retail store uses will vary based on its size and location.
There are a few common ways that shops use energy, which include:
- Lighting: Displays, signage, and extended operating hours.
- Heating and Cooling: Energy for customer comfort and product preservation.
- Refrigeration: Especially for supermarkets or food retailers - open or inefficient units can be costly.
- Appliances and Equipment: Point-of-sale systems, security, and background services
How to Reduce Energy Usage in Retail Stores
Switch to LED Lighting
Upgrading to LED lighting can reduce commercial energy costs by up to 80%.
Click here to learn more on our "LED Lighting - Save up to 80% on Lighting Costs" article.
Turn Down Your Heating and Cooling
Try to keep doors closed to prevent warmth from escaping. Turning your thermostat down by even just 1°C can make a huge difference on your bill, as well as timing your heating to turn off an hour or so before closing. The same is true for air conditioning.
Keep Fridges and Freezers at The Correct Temperature
Check that your equipment is operating at the recommended minimum temperature for food safety. Stick to these guidelines, as you must avoid compromising your goods, and any cooler and you may be wasting energy.
Check Your Door Seals Regularly
Maintain door seals on refrigeration units and service HVAC systems regularly.
Review the Energy-Efficient Label
Try to opt for equipment with an A+++, A++, or A+ rating as these items are the most efficient and will have the lowest operating costs.
Click here to learn more on our "Energy Efficiency Labels: 2026 Guide for Irish Businesses" article.
Engage with Your Team
Appoint an Energy Champion to monitor usage patterns and drive efficiency.
Opt for Insulation
Your bill may still be costly, even after making all of the above changes, if your building is poorly insulated and loses lots of heat easily. To avoid draughts and damp situations, keep your store in good condition and identify any potential repairs.
Conduct an Energy Audit
Conduct an energy audit to identify high-usage areas and fix inefficiencies.
Click here to learn more on our "How to Conduct a Business Energy Audit?" article.
⚡ The quickest way to lower energy costs is to make sure that you are on the best electricity rate. To compare prices from all suppliers, upload a recent electricity bill using the link below, and our energy experts will analyse it for free. No obligation - just saving insights 👇
Understanding Retailer Electricity Tariff Options
Types of Business Electricity Plans
Once you start researching providers and contracts, you’ll soon realise that there are several different business energy tariffs to choose from. It can be hard to know which one will be best suited to your shop, so here’s an overview of the main types of tariffs:
Fixed-rate
- Fixed-rate tariffs charge an agreed-upon cost for gas and electricity.
- They usually last for a set period, often between 12 to 24 months.
- The benefit of fixed-rate tariffs is that you’re guaranteed to pay the same unit price throughout your contract which can be a win in terms of planning and budgeting.
It’s important to note, however, that it’s only the cost of each unit of power that is fixed to a specific amount. It protects you against the cost of the energy itself increasing, but if you use more power than usual, your bills will also increase to cover the extra energy that you consume.
Wholesale tracker
- Power stations auction electricity every day, which is purchased by suppliers who in turn, sell that energy to their customers.
- A wholesale tracker passes through the daily average power station price to customers with the addition of a supplier management fee.
- This is an honest and transparent process as electricity auction prices are publicly available and published by SEMO (Single Electricity Market Operator).
Variable-rate
- Prices on a variable-rate tariff can change depending on market activity.
- Once you come out of contract, suppliers auto-roll customers onto variable rates.
- Variable rates tend to be expensive and are reviewed upward by suppliers at their own discretion.
- If you do not renew your electricity contract when it expires, you may be put onto an expensive variable rate.
- To avoid this, make sure that you compare business energy deals well in advance of your contract end date to find the best option for your business.
Flexible contracts
- If you run a larger business, this type of contract gives you the flexibility to fix energy prices for the months or years ahead in tranches of between 10% and 25% of your expected usage.
- You will have the ability to lock in wholesale energy prices to take advantage of downward movements, while also having the ability to minimise your exposure during periods of market volatility.
- While this contract provides flexibility to lock in and unlock wholesale energy prices, you will be exposed to commodity market volatility, which can be significant, and you will not have budgetary certainty.
Meter Types & Their Impact
- Day/Night meters: Benefit from off-peak pricing.
- Smart meters: Provide segmented rates (day, night, peak) for precise tracking.
- Quarter-hour meters: Used by larger businesses—track usage with finer precision.
Save On Retail Electricity and Gas Costs with Utilityfair
Switching energy suppliers when your commercial electricity and gas contracts expire is one of the easiest ways to save money on business energy. Retailers must look early and compare different tariffs to guarantee that they find the best deal available.
Utilityfair has an extensive track record helping retail stores save on energy costs: We’ve helped over 4,500 retail businesses save more than €23 million on electricity and gas bills over the last 12 months.
This is how we can help you and it's completely free:
- Full Market Comparison for the Best Rates: Utilityfair compares offers across all energy suppliers in Ireland, ensuring you receive the most competitive rates perfectly aligned with your store’s consumption needs.
- Hassle-Free Switching Process: Switching to a better energy deal is seamless - no downtime, no paperwork headaches. We manage the entire transition for you.
- Ongoing Contract Management & Renewal Monitoring: Our experts handle contract transitions, track renewal dates, and prevent you from slipping into expensive rollover or out-of-contract rates.
- Unbiased, Expert Advice: We provide impartial guidance to help you confidently compare plans and pick the best option for your business—even as market conditions shift.
👉 Ready to Start Saving?
Fill out our enquiry form, click the link below or call 01 547 0999 to speak with a Utilityfair energy expert and start saving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, and appliances are the primary sinks of energy consumption in retail.
Business owners can implement several cost-saving strategies, such as switching to energy-efficient lighting like LED bulbs, adjusting the thermostats appropriately, regularly checking refrigeration units for faulty seals, and opting for energy-efficient appliances.
Monitoring your energy consumption will allow you to identify high-usage areas and understand where energy is most consumed. By doing so, you can keep track of your usage and make efficiency improvements.
When comparing business energy suppliers, you should consider the pricing and the terms offered to make sure you are getting the best deal available and the necessary contract flexibility to suit your business needs. Also, you might want to consider opting for energy suppliers that use renewable sources to make sure your usage aligns with your sustainability goals.
Fixed tariffs provide predictability. Fully fixed tariffs offer full rate certainty. Variable tariffs offer flexibility but come with volatility.
They provide detailed segmental usage insight (day, night, peak), enabling better energy management.
Yes, the CRU ensures you can switch freely; switching usually takes just a few weeks with minimal disruption.
Yes! Utilityfair specialises in helping businesses manage their energy expenses and save them money. Our energy experts will compare offers from the different suppliers and advise you on the best deal for your business. You can start saving today by filling out the form on our website for a free comparison in minutes. You can also reach out to us on 01 547 0999 and speak with our experts immediately.
